COVID-19 Outbreaks and Mortality Among Public Transportation Workers - California, January 2020-May 2022.

Work-related factors can contribute to risk for exposure to and infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and subsequent COVID-19-attributable outcomes, including death. Comparing COVID-19 metrics across industries can help identify workers at highest risk. Elevated COVID-19 mortality rates have been reported among all transportation workers, as well as specifically in public transportation industries (1-3). The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) calculated public transportation industry-specific COVID-19 outbreak incidence during January 2020-May 2022 and analyzed all laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 deaths among working-age adults in California to calculate public transportation industry-specific mortality rates during the same period. Overall, 340 confirmed COVID-19 outbreaks, 5,641 outbreak-associated cases, and 537 COVID-19-associated deaths were identified among California public transportation industries. Outbreak incidence was 5.2 times as high (129.1 outbreaks per 1,000 establishments) in the bus and urban transit industry and 3.6 times as high in the air transportation industry (87.7) as in all California industries combined (24.7). Mortality rates were 2.1 times as high (237.4 deaths per 100,000 workers) in transportation support services and 1.8 times as high (211.5) in the bus and urban transit industry as in all industries combined (114.4). Workers in public transportation industries are at higher risk for COVID-19 workplace outbreaks and mortality than the general worker population in California and should be prioritized for COVID-19 prevention strategies, including vaccination and enhanced workplace protection measures.

Workplaces Most Affected by COVID-19 Outbreaks in California, January 2020-August 2021.

Objectives. To describe which industries have the highest burden of COVID-19 outbreaks in California. Methods. We assigned US census industry codes to COVID-19 outbreaks reported to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) from January 1, 2020, to August 31, 2021, and determined numbers of outbreaks, numbers of outbreak-associated cases, and outbreak incidence levels by industry. We determined characteristics of outbreak-associated cases using individual case data linked to COVID-19 outbreaks. Results. Local health departments reported 19 893 COVID-19 outbreaks and 300 379 outbreak-associated cases to CDPH. The most outbreaks (47.8%) and outbreak-associated cases (54.8%) occurred in the health care and social assistance sector, where outbreak incidence levels were highest in skilled nursing facilities and residential care facilities (1306 and 544 outbreaks per 1000 establishments, respectively). High proportions of outbreaks also occurred in the retail trade (8.6%) and manufacturing (7.9%) sectors. Demographics of outbreak-associated cases varied across industries. Conclusions. Certain California industries, particularly in the health care, manufacturing, and retail sectors, have experienced a high burden of COVID-19 outbreaks during the pandemic. Public Health Implications. Tracking COVID-19 outbreaks by industry may help target prevention efforts, including workforce vaccination. (Am J Public Health. 2022;112(8):1180-1190. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.306862).

Development of a Data Visualization Tool for Occupational Exposure to Chemicals of Concern for Breast Cancer Among California Working Women, 2010-2014.

We identified the occupations that employ California women and a list of chemicals of concern for breast cancer. We evaluated the likelihood of on-the-job exposure to the categories of chemicals by occupation among formally and informally employed women. We selected 145 occupations representing more than 6.6 million women (85% of California working women), along with an additional sixteen occupations for informal workers only. We organized 1012 chemicals (including mammary gland carcinogens, developmental toxicants, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals) into twenty-five categories. More than 80 percent of occupations investigated had possible or probable exposure to at least one category of chemicals. This is the first categorization of occupational exposure to chemicals of concern for breast cancer among California working women. Our investigation revealed significant data gaps, which could be improved by policy changes resulting in enhanced collection of data on occupation and chemical exposure.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 and Respiratory Virus Sentinel Surveillance, California, USA, May 10, 2020-June 12, 2021.

State and local health departments established the California Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Respiratory Virus Sentinel Surveillance System to conduct enhanced surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory pathogens at sentinel outpatient testing sites in 10 counties throughout California, USA. We describe results obtained during May 10, 2020‒June 12, 2021, and compare persons with positive and negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR results by using Poisson regression. We detected SARS-CoV-2 in 1,696 (19.6%) of 8,662 specimens. Among 7,851 specimens tested by respiratory panel, rhinovirus/enterovirus was detected in 906 (11.5%) specimens and other respiratory pathogens in 136 (1.7%) specimens. We also detected 23 co-infections with SARS-CoV-2 and another pathogen. SARS-CoV-2 positivity was associated with male participants, an age of 35-49 years, Latino race/ethnicity, obesity, and work in transportation occupations. Sentinel surveillance can provide useful virologic and epidemiologic data to supplement other disease monitoring activities and might become increasingly useful as routine testing decreases.

Risk factors for occupational heat-related illness among California workers, 2000-2017.

BACKGROUND: As climate change increases global temperatures, heat-related morbidity and mortality are projected to rise. Outdoor workers and those who perform exertional tasks are particularly susceptible to heat-related illness (HRI). Using workers' compensation data, we aimed to describe rates of occupational HRI in California and identify demographic and occupational risk factors to inform prevention efforts. METHODS: We identified HRI cases during 2000-2017 in the California Workers' Compensation Information System (WCIS) using International Classification of Diseases Ninth and Tenth Revision codes, WCIS nature and cause of injury codes, and HRI keywords. We assigned industry and occupation codes using the NIOSH Industry and Occupation Computerized Coding System (NIOCCS). We calculated HRI rates by sex, age group, year, county, industry, and occupation, and estimated confidence intervals using generalized linear models. RESULTS: We identified 15,996 HRI cases during 2000-2017 (6.0 cases/100,000 workers). Workers aged 16-24 years had the highest HRI rate (7.6) among age groups, and men (8.1) had a higher rate than women (3.5). Industry sectors with the highest HRI rates were Agriculture, Farming, Fishing, and Forestry (38.6), and Public Administration (35.3). Occupational groups with the highest HRI rates were Protective Services (56.6) and Farming, Fishing, and Forestry (36.6). Firefighters had the highest HRI rate (389.6) among individual occupations. CONCLUSIONS: Workers in certain demographic and occupational groups are particularly susceptible to HRI. Additional prevention efforts, including outreach and enforcement targeting high-risk groups, are needed to reduce occupational HRI. Workers' compensation data can provide timely information about temporal trends and risk factors for HRI.

Rates of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in a State Workers' Compensation Information System, by Industry and Occupation - California, 2007-2014.

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) occurs when the median nerve becomes compressed as it passes through the wrist within the carpal tunnel, resulting in pain, tingling, weakness, or numbness in the hand or the wrist. Occupational risk factors for CTS include engaging in work activities that require forceful, repetitive tasks, prolonged use of the hands or wrists in an awkward posture, or vibration (1). To assess trends and identify high-risk industries and occupations for CTS, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) analyzed California workers' compensation claims for CTS by industry (2007-2014) and occupation (2014) and calculated rates per full-time equivalent (FTE) worker. During 2007-2014, a total of 139,336 CTS cases were reported (incidence = 6.3 cases per 10,000 FTE) in California workers; the rate among women (8.2) was 3.3 times higher than that among men (2.5). Industries with the highest rates of CTS were textile, fabric finishing, and coating mills (44.9), apparel accessories and other apparel manufacturing (43.1), and animal slaughtering and processing (39.8). Industries with high rates of CTS should consider implementing intervention measures, including ergonomic evaluations and development of tools and instruments that require less repetition and force and that correct awkward postures.

Using multiple data sets for public health tracking of work-related injuries and illnesses in California.

BACKGROUND: Research suggests the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses underestimates the magnitude of workplace injuries and illnesses. Enumerating workplace injuries and illnesses may be improved by utilizing multiple state-based data sources. METHODS: Using California-based datasets (workers' compensation claims, health care facility data, and physician reports), we enumerated unique cases of amputations and carpal tunnel syndrome (2007-2008), and evaluated the datasets for usefulness in occupational health tracking by performing record linkage across all datasets and calculating match rates between them. RESULTS: 6,862 amputation and 39,589 carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) cases were identified. Match rates between the datasets ranged from 34.0% to 45.6% (amputations) and 3.0% to 43.5% (CTS). Enumerated amputation and CTS cases from state-based sources were about five and ten times greater than the BLS SOII estimates (1,390 and 3,720). CONCLUSIONS: Successful demonstration of this state level approach has broad implications for improving federal and state efforts to track and prevent work-related injuries and illnesses.

Comparison of strains produced by titanium and poly D, L-lactide Acid plating systems to in vitro forces.

PURPOSE: To determine if a specific resorbable plating system provides similar fixation, in terms of strain distribution under load, to a titanium system when the Champy technique is applied for the treatment of a mandibular angle fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A formalin-fixed cadaver mandible was harvested just before the study. A bicortical osteotomy was then made using a diamond disc extending in an oblique direction in the area of the angle. It was then passively fixated with a 4-hole 2.0-mm miniplate. Two stacked rosette strain gauges were bonded to the mandible on either side of the fracture. Each rosette had 3 strain gauges arranged in specific degrees relative to each other. The mandible was then placed on a dynanometer and 30 lb loads were delivered on the ipsilateral molar. Static resistance was placed in the condylar neck region to simulate the glenoid fossa. Loading was repeated 10 times with a period of 3 minutes between loads. Measurements were recorded for each strain gauge after loads were in place for 30 seconds. The same process was repeated using a 4-hole 2.1-mm resorbable miniplate. The strains were then used to calculate the maximum and minimum strains for each rosette. Hooke's law was used to calculate the principal stresses. RESULTS: Differences were observed between the strain gauges for each individual plating system. There was variability within the resorbable plate measurements as shown by the standard deviation. Using the REML ANOVA test, a significant difference was found between the 2 materials. CONCLUSION: In this in vitro study, there were significant biomechanical differences observed between a 2.0-mm titanium miniplate and a 2.1-mm resorbable miniplate when used to treat a mandibular angle fracture following Champy's principles. Based on our finding, both systems cannot be used interchangeably for the treatment of mandibular angle fractures under the same clinical conditions.